Diving board and mounting means therefor



Oct. 10, 1961 J. G. GRIFFITH ETAL 3,003,763 DIVING BOARD AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 17, 1959 United States Patent C) 3,003,763 A DIVING BOARD AND MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR lohn G.- Gritlitli, 911 Dupont St., and Frank W. Coleman, Lake Samsli, both of Bellingham, Wash'. Fil'ed July 17, 1959, Ser. No. 827,855 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-66) Our invention relates to a diving board and mounting means therefor and objects of our invention are to provide a portable diving board unit which is strong, durable, rugged and compact in construction and which is light in weight and can be easily moved from place to place.

Another object is to provide a diving board unit which has good action and is capable of imparting to a diver an upward throw conducive to good form in diving.

Another object is to provide a diving board unit of relatively short length which does not need to extend out over a swimming pool or over the end of a dock or iioat or tower on which it is used and one which minimizes strain and vibration on the dock or tower or float on which it is used because it is self contained and because a diver makes only one springing contact with the board.

Another object is to provide a diving board which does not depend on its own resiliency but which has one end pivotally supported and the other end resiliency suspended for vertical movement by elastic rubber suspension members which provide the spring action for the board and which will respond in a satisfactory manner for divers who vary in weight over a wide range, so that the same diving board unit, without change, is satisfactory for the use of both adults and children. Y

Another object is to provide a portable diving board unit comprising tworigidly connected spaced apart side frame members having a diving board positioned between them with the inner end of the diving board pivotally supported from the frame members `and the outer end of said diving board resiliently suspended from said frame members and with a platform supported by the frame members at a higher elevation than the diving board and above the pivoted end of the diving board so that a diver can jump from the platform directly onto the resiliently suspended outer end portion of the diving board.

Other objects of our invention will be apparent from the following description andV accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of this description the end of the diving board unit toward the right in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is termed the inner end and the end toward the left is termed` th outer end.

In the drawings FIGURE l -is a perspective-view of a portable diving board unit constructed in accordance with our invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a lowered position of a diving board being shown by dot and dash lines.

lFlG. 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction indicated by line 3-3 of FlG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of said diving board unit.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing step supporting means.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and on a larger scale than FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation showing means for connecting the lower end of an elastic suspension member with a cross bar by which the movable end of the diving board is supported.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The frame structure of our portable diving board unit consists of two spaced apart, parallel, rigidly connected, upright side frames designated generally by 10 and 11. Each side frame 10 and 11 s herein illustrated as formed ice of four generally upright metal tubes 12, 13, 14, and 15 which are all rigidly connected with a tubular top bar 16. Preferably the top bar 16 and the upright bar 12 at the outer end of each frame are made from one piece of metal tubing and are connected with each other by an integral curved portion 17 of fairly large radius to avoid sharp corners at this location. The top bar 16 and the upright bars 13, 14 and 15 can be attached to each other by welding. A transverse horizontal brace bar 18 rigidly connects the two upright bars 12 at the outer ends of the frames 10 and 11. Preferably bar 1S is detachably connectedV with bars 12.

Each inner end bar 15 extends above the top bar 16 and is bent in inverted U shape to form a hand rail composed of a horizontal hand-hold part 20, two corner parts 21 and 22, bent to a fairly large radius to avoid sharp corners, and a downwardly extending terminal part 23 which is rigidly secured to the top bar 16. The generally upright bar 12 at the outer end of each side frame and the two generally upright bars 14 and 15 at the inner end of each side frame are convergently inclined, upwardly con'- sidered, relative to the vertical. This provides frames of better and more convenient shape and better appearance. The two inner end bars 14 and 15 of each side frame 10 and 11 are parallel and are connected with each other at vertically spaced apart locations by welding two short tubular horizontally disposed step supports 24 and 25 therebetween.

The lower ends of the generally upright bars 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the respective side frames 1li and 11 are rigidly attached to two longitudinally extending, preferably ilat, base plates 26 and 27, which may be made of wood. One way to attach the upright bars to the base plates 25 and 27 is to weld foot pieces 28 and 29 to the lower ends of the respective upright bars 12 and 13 and other foot pieces 30-to the lower ends of bars 14 and 15 and to secure each of the foot pieces to the base members or plates 26 and 27 by screws or bolts 31'.

T wo'spaced apart transverse horizontal steps 32 and 33 are provided at the inner end of the diving board unit. These steps are secured to and supported from the step supports 24 and 25. FIG. 5 shows one satisfactory way to attach the steps 32 and 33 to the step supports 24 and 25. This consists in welding a bracket 34 to each step support and scouring the step to said bracket by screws or bolts 3'5, one of which is shown in FIG. 5. The steps 32 and 33 make it easy to ascend the diving board unit from the inner end and they also serve as struts between the two side frames to brace and strengthen the frame structure.

A horizontal platform 36 is provided at the inner end of the diving board unit above the steps 32 and 33 and between the top bars 16 of the two side frames 10 and 11'. The top of this platform 36 is substantially flush with the top bars 16 and the-edge por-tions `of said platform 36 rest on brackets 37 and are secured thereto by bolts or screws 3S. The brackets 37 can be shaped similarly to the bracket 34, shownin FIG. 5, and they preferably extend throughout the length of the platform 36. The platform 36 is preferablyrformed of strong waterproof plywood and it serves as a tie member and truss between the two side frames 10 and 11. Preferably the length of the platform 36 and hand rails alongside of it is equal to about half the length of the diving board unit.

A diving board, indicated generally by numeral 40, and consisting of a plurality of parts hereinafter described, is supported between the two side frame members 10 `and 11 for vertical swinging movement. rthe form of this diving board 4t) can be varied. The diving board 40 shown in the drawings comprises a strong and substantial board member 41, preferably about eighteen inches wide whereon a diver jumps in diving. Preferably the inner 3 end portion 41' of this board member is of reduced width. A support bar 42 extends crosswise underneath the board member 41 and is secured to said board member 41 by a bracket 43, FIGS. 4 and 6, which is rigid with the bar 42 and secured by bolts 44 or like means to the board member 41. The cross bar 42 is positioned a substantial distance inwardly from the outer end of the board member 41. The end portions of the bar 42 extend beyond the respective edges of the board member 41 and are respectively connected with elastic rubber suspension members 45 and 46 by rings 47 and brackets 48, see FIG. 7. The upper end portions of the respective suspension members 45 and 46 are connected by brackets 5i) with the top bars 16 of the respective side frames 10 and 11. The brackets 50 are inverted U shaped members of soft or resilient metal welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the top bars 16. The lower brackets 48 are similar to brackets 50 and are welded to the rings 47. All of the brackets 48 and Si) are capable of being securely clamped onto the end portions of the elastic suspension members 45 and 46. Bolts 51 are provided in brackets Si) and similar bolts 52 are provided in brackets 48. The elastic suspension members 45 and 46 are of high grade tough rubber possessed of a high degree of elasticity. Each end of each suspension member 45 and 46 has reinforcing 49 imbedded therein, as indicated in FIG. 7. This strengthens and hardens each end of each suspension member 45 and 46 to such an extent that when the bolts 51 and S2 are tightened the brackets will be clamped tightly enough on the suspension members so there is no danger of said suspension inembers being pulled out of the brackets. The ring members 47 are free to move rotatively on the cross bar 42. A nut 53 is threaded onto the end of cross bar 42, as shown Vin FIG. 7, to retain the adjacent ring 47 thereon.

Two tubular bars 55 and 56 `are rigidly secured to the cross bar 42 and extend in divergent relation along the under side of the board member 40 toward the inner end of the frames and 11. 'The inner ends of said bars 55 and 56, shown at the right in FIGS. l, 2 and 4 are connected by pivots 57 with brackets 53 which are rigid with the upright frame bars 14. The inner end ofthe narrower board member 41 is bolted or otherwise xed to a cross bar 59 which is rigid with the bars 55 and 56. Preferably a rubber mat 6i), shown in FIG. 6 and a fragment of which is shown in FIGS. l and 4, is provided on the board member 41 from which the divers spring. Preferably pivots 57 are removable.

We nd that when this diving board unit is made about six feet long and with the top bars about forty inches high it is suitable for the use of both adults and children and that a unit of this size and of rugged construction will Weigh about seventy-five pounds, making it readily portable. Preferably the elastic suspension members 45 and 46 are about twelve inches long when not loaded andthey 5 support the board 40 at an upward incline. In using the device a diver jumps from the platform 36 directly onto the board member 41, from which the dive is made. Thus the diver makes only one springing contact on the board 41 and much of the usual jar and vibration caused by running along an ordinary spring board is avoided. When a heavy diver lands on the board member 41 it will be moved downwardly into a position such as indicated by dot and dash lines in FIG. 2 and the diver will receive a very substantial upward throw, which is conducive to good diving. When a diver of light weight, such as a child jumps from the platform 36 onto the board member 41 it will be moved downwardly a'less distance but will react to give the light weight diver a satisfactory upward throw.

The divergent rods and 56 are welded to the cross members 42 and 59 and the board member 41, 41 is rigidly secured to cross members 42 and 59. The rods 55 and 56 have widely spaced apart inner ends which are pivotally attached to the frame. All of these parts cooperate to form a strong diving board which will not twist and warp.

Usually this diving board unit will not tend to move around when in use. However, if desired, it can be anchored down by laying sand bags on the base members Z6 and 27.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of our invention but it will be'understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

Portable diving board means comprising two rigidly connected spaced apart upright side frames; an elevated platform supported by said side frames adjacent the inner end of said side frames; a diving board positioned between said side frames with its inner end spaced a substantial distance below said platform and its outer end extending beyond the outer end of said side frames, said diving board including a board member having a support bar extending across its under side and beyond the edges of the board member and rigidly secured to the board member and having two divergent rods rigid withv said support bar and extending divergingly away from said support bar along the lower side of said board member and toward the inner ends of said side frames, said rods being rigidly connected by a cross bar and the inner end of said board member being rigidly attached to the cross bar; pivot means pivotally connecting the spaced apart inner ends of said rods with the respective side frame; and at least two resilent suspension members connected between the outwardly extending end portions of said support bar and the adjacent side frames resiliently supporting the outer end portion of said diving board.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,837 Parini tune 13, 1871 2,068,386 ons Jan. 19, 1937 2,812,180 Cymbal Nov. 5, 1957 2,858,915 Patterson Nov. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 104,721 sweden June 9, 1942 

